Metal roofing has become a common upgrade for New London homes and businesses that want a roof rated to shed heavy snow and coastal wind without the shorter lifespan of asphalt shingles. This category covers the 8 local contractors who install and repair standing seam panels, corrugated metal, and stone-coated steel systems, along with the flashing, underlayment, and ventilation work that goes with them.
What the work actually involves
A metal roof job is more than fastening panels to a deck. It includes tearing off or overlaying the old roofing, installing ice and water shield along eaves and valleys (important given New London's freeze-thaw winters), fitting drip edge and ridge venting, and sealing every penetration where a vent pipe, chimney, or skylight meets the metal. Standing seam systems also require panels to be cut and crimped to the exact roof dimensions on site or with a portable roll-former, so measurement accuracy matters as much as the crew's experience with the specific panel profile.
What to check before hiring
Ask whether the contractor is a certified installer for the panel manufacturer they're proposing, since that affects whether the material warranty stays valid. Get a written scope that specifies gauge thickness, panel finish, and fastener type (exposed vs. concealed clip systems age very differently in salt air near the coast). Confirm they carry workers' comp and liability coverage, and ask how they handle roof penetrations and dissimilar-metal contact, a common source of premature corrosion.
How we score contractors
Our ranking weighs verified licensing and insurance, the consistency and detail of customer feedback, response time, and evidence of manufacturer-specific training rather than general roofing experience alone. You can see the full breakdown of factors and weighting on our methodology page, and view the full ranked list of local roofers, metal specialists included, on the best roofing contractors in New London guide.